AirTrain JFK operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. AirTrain is free unless you start or end your journey at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations. There, the fee is $8.25 USD, payable only by MetroCard.
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Use your MetroCard at the AirTrain turnstiles to pay the $8.25 fare. Use a MetroCard ticket machine if you need to add value to your card. (Do this in advance to skip the lines.) You can board any AirTrain that arrives.
The AirTrain system operates between all passenger terminals. For journeys between terminals, it's free. To make your connection, follow signs for AirTrain.
The increase came just a year after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey raised the AirTrain fare to $8 from $7.75. Port Authority officials called the most recent raise an “automatic inflation-based adjustment” in a December press release that highlighted the agency's 2023 budget.
Both public transportation options involve the JFK AirTrain light rail that brings you from the airport to the connecting subway or train station. A subway ride and AirTrain costs $11.15. A faster commuter train to and AirTrain costs between $13.25 to $15.25.
The average travel time between JFK's various terminals and Jamaica Station is approximately 8-15 minutes, depending on the specific terminal. With trains running frequently, typically every 4 to 10 minutes, passengers can expect a swift and seamless journey to their destination at Jamaica Station.
Subway. By far the cheapest way to get to JFK is the subway, departing Manhattan every few minutes. You'll want to take the subway to Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK Airport, on either the A, E, J, or Z trains.
Airtrain JFK Cost, Fare & Ticket Options: What to ExpectThe fare for a one-way trip is $7.75, and you can purchase tickets at vending machines located in the terminal buildings or at the Airtrain stations. These machines accept cash, credit, and debit cards for your convenience.
AirTrain Manhattan to JFKIf you take the subway to travel from Manhattan to JFK, you can change from the subway to the AirTrain at Jamaica or Howard Beach. Here you must use your ticket when you board the AirTrain. You no longer need the ticket when you leave the train at the airport.
The AirTrains from Howard Beach and Jamaica run counterclockwise on the “outer loop” of the 2 tracks. There is a separate “inner loop” for a train that only visits airport terminals. This train runs clockwise, in the opposite direction as the outer loop.
A subway ride and AirTrain costs $11.15. A faster commuter train to and AirTrain costs between $13.25 to $15.25. A shared shuttle van costs between JFK and Grand Central is $20 per person, while a shared shuttle from JFK to your door starts at $40 per person and up.
Walking. JFK doesn't encourage walking between terminals as the roads are busy on the inside of the airport loop. However, there are sidewalks available, and it is possible to walk between some of the terminals that are closer together, such as Terminals 4 and 5.
There are 4 ways to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport: by taxi, private shuttle, subway and bus. A taxi or private shuttle will be the quickest but the most expensive option, followed by the bus and then the subway being a good balance between cheap and quick.